Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is advising Tokyo-listed Japan Tobacco on the $2.4 billion acquisition and take-private of New York Stock Exchange-listed Vector Group, which owns several prominent tobacco brands in the U.S. Freshfields supported Japan Tobacco on the deal with U.S. corporate partners Sebastian Fain and Paul Humphreys taking charge, according…

Earlier this week, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett became the latest major law firm to find itself on the sharp end of the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s push to ensure compliance with anti-money laundering rules. Dentons and Clyde & Co have previously come under the gaze of the SRA’s newfound hawkishness on…

Barry Skolnick and Alvin Eskanazy, co-founders of the nonprofit Community-Police Relations Foundation, formed in 2017 to assist law enforcement communities in South Florida and around the country, are involved in a legal battle. Skolnick accused Eskanazy of misusing funds in mid-June. Now, Eskanazy has filed a $10 million defamation countersuit, alleging…

Broward County prosecutors have dropped felony charges against Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor following his recent arrest related to allegations of failing to comply with conditions as a registered sex offender. Taylor’s longtime attorney, Mark Eiglarsh, praised the prosecutors, particularly Assistant State Attorney Melissa Steinberg, for the…

Federal appellate judges sitting in Seattle, Washington, seemed wary Wednesday of reversing a court order stopping Idaho from enforcing the state’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors against a transgender teenager. During oral arguments, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Judges Margaret McKeown and Ana de Alba pressed…

A Collin County district court judge awarded up to $1.6 million in attorney fees to plaintiffs’ counselors, as prevailing parties in a dispute over rights to develop a commercial property. Judge Christine Nowak of the 493rd District Court, entered the final judgment Aug. 16 in favor of MM CCM 13MC…